Baker is only the fifth person to be president of AOPA. Actually, he is the sixth. The first was T. Townsend Ludgington, a member of the board who founded AOPA but who quickly resigned the post when the first employee was hired.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has notified the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that general aviation pilots and their aircraft continue to be subjected to what appear to be random searches while federal officials have failed to respond to a four-month-old AOPA public records request for information about the searches.

GUEST EDITORIAL By CRAIG FULLER, AOPA President

You don’t have to look very far to see the threats to general aviation today. Sequestration cuts, tower closures, user fees, and tax changes are just a few of the recent, and ongoing, assaults on GA. Our freedom to fly is under attack, and we must fight back with every weapon in our arsenal.

As the search for the next president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association kicks off, AOPA Chairman Bill Trimble reached out to members with a detailed description of who they are looking for: “The candidate must be an outgoing, passionate aviator who believes in the critical value GA brings to our country and citizens. The candidate also must be an experienced businessperson who can lead and grow the world’s largest aviation association. The candidate must be able to articulate and fight for our cause and beliefs in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. The candidate needs to fight for our rights with an ever-burdening regulatory structure that has grown substantially since the tragic events of 9/11.” Read his full message here.

In an unexpected move, Craig Fuller, president and chief executive officer of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has notified AOPA’s Board of Trustees of his intent to step down from his position.

Not long ago, President Barack Obama’s press secretary mentioned that the president wants to eliminate “subsidies to corporate jet owners.” It’s a politically popular line in tough economic times — but it’s wrong, says Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller in an op-ed piece in the Politico. In it he noted: “General aviation is an incredible American success story. It’s a homegrown industry that exports aircraft worldwide and generates 1.2 million American jobs and $150 billion in annual revenue.” Read the full editorial here.